Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are leading the ATP Rankings and they are the top 2 seeds in the current ATP1000 in Paris. It’s not a secret that, given their position, they are fighting to end the season at the top spot of the rankings.
During a recent interview with Eurosport, Carlos Alcaraz confirmed that despite the rivalry, he enjoys a great relationship with the King of Clay.
“It’s true, Rafa is fighting for the No.1. Some players have the same goal: to be No.1. So I need to do my best. Outside the court [Rafa and I] are colleagues, at least it’s the way I see it.
Rafa is not my enemy. I say hello, I don’t see that competition. With the rest of the players, it’s the same. Beyond that relationship, I’ll try to keep being No.1.”
Both Carlito and Rafa will start their campaign in Paris on Wednesday. Alcaraz will face Yoshihito Nishioka. Nadal will clash against the winner between Tommy Paul and Roberto Bautista-Agut.
Click here to see the draw.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2022
Ranked no.1, Carlos played his last match on the 29th of October when he lost to world no.8 Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-2 in the semifinal in Basel (draw).
Presently, during this year the Spaniard has a composed 55-12 win-loss record. The Spaniard conquered 5 titles in 2022 in Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Barcelona, Madrid and U.S. Open. Carlos got to the final in Hamburg and in Umag.
Rafael Nadal in 2022
Currently the world no.2, Rafael played his last match on the 5th of September when he lost to world no.21 Francis Tiafoe 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the 4th round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This year Nadal has a composed 38-5 match record. The Spaniard clinched 4 titles in 2022 in Melbourne, Australian Open, Acapulco and French Open. Nadal was the runner-up in Indian Wells.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal squared off 3 times. Their actual record is 2-1 for Nadal. Previously, the last time they competed against each other, Carlos Alcaraz won 6-2 1-6 6-3 in the quarter in Madrid (Mutua Madrid Open) on the 6th of May 2022.
Here the video highlights.
Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal |
| Embed from Getty Images |